Ellouise Richmond

Ellouise (Ella) Richmond, 100, died peacefully at her home on Sunday, May 5, 2024, surrounded by her family.  On September 1, 1923, James Peyton McGown and Ruby Norsworthy McGown welcomed their first child, Hattie Ellouise. Growing up as a devoted daughter and sister in Hemphill, Texas, she was the eldest of 7 children. After graduating from high school in 1941, she moved to Beaumont and was a live-in nanny to a local family.  During that time, she also attended Business School. Her first job was keeping the books at Gary’s Service Station on Washington Boulevard. She also worked for several years at Sun Oil. Through several friends, she became involved at Roberts Avenue Methodist Church. One of those friends set her up on a blind date with Robert (Bob) Richmond. It was a match made in heaven and the two were married on Christmas Eve in 1947. They remained active at Roberts Avenue (McCabe Robert’s Avenue) for over 53 years where they made many life-long friends. When Ella and her girlfriends began having children, they would get together and sew clothes – hence the Sewing Club was born. Over time, sewing took a back seat to play dates, lunches and family trips instead. They all remained lifelong friends with Ella being the last surviving member. The bond of friendship among the Sewing Club families still remains.

Ella left the workforce in 1949 when she and Bob welcomed the first of 5 children. She wholeheartedly embraced the role of homemaker, creating a loving haven for her family.  From wonderful home cooked meals and delicious homemade birthday cakes to beautiful hand-crafted clothes, every endeavor done for her family was with great affection.   Together she and Bob created a loving Christian home and a family that truly enjoyed being together.  Whether it was Sunday afternoon, Thanksgiving, Christmas or our annual week-long vacation at Shirley’s Lakehouse, our family loved being together.

Ella and Bob were devoted Christians and faithful servants to the Church and their community.  As lifelong members of the Methodist Church, they attended services every Sunday with their family.  Ella served as a Cub Scout Den Mother, PTA president at South Park High School and was a board member of Sabine Oaks Nursing Home.  She and Bob volunteered at Some Other Place and sometimes brought their grandkids along to help.  They devoted time to Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.s) in the South Park area helping keep the neighborhood safe.

On September 1st of last year, she celebrated her 100^th birthday and was given a wonderful party to mark the event.  According to William, one of her great-grandkids, it was the best party he had ever been to!  Her entire family and many family friends were able to attend including most of the children of her Sewing Club friends.

Ellouise was a godly woman.  She had beautiful handwriting.  She was a bridge player and an avid reader.  She could beat anyone at scrabble except for her daughter, Sandra.  She and Bob loved playing chicken foot, especially with her beloved grandkids.  Ella enjoyed traveling and camping.  She loved nature and being outdoors.  She also really loved a dipped cone from Dairy Queen.

In her last years, as her health began to decline, she was able to remain in her home thanks to the concerted efforts of her entire family and a group of loving caregivers whose diligence and faithfulness cannot be overstated.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Richmond in 2015 and her daughter, Sandra Richmond Carrington in 2022. We have peace and joy in our hearts knowing they are reunited. She is survived by her sister, Ruby Lynn Thomas; son-in-law, Don Carrington; her children, John and his wife, Catherine; Ronnie and his wife, Cheryl; Donna and her husband, Eric Sachs; her youngest son, Scott; and her treasured 8 grandchildren, Lauren Crommett and her husband, Michael; Katie Westbrook; Chris Carrington; Leslie Prothro and her husband, Jonathan; Kelli Riley and her husband, Rick; Kristin Franks and her husband, Shaun; Brooke Y’Barbo; and Blair Richmond; and her 13 great-grandchildren, Aaron and Evan Westbrook; Carson, Caroline, Camden and Claire Riley; Romy and Henry Crommett; William Prothro; Elliott, Camille, Ruby and Luke Franks.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 18, 2024, in the Dishman Chapel at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 3430 Harrison Avenue, Beaumont. Join us afterwards for fellowship, dessert and coffee in the Nita McKnight Parlor, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

Charitable donations can be made in her memory to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 0843, Beaumont, Texas 77704 donate online.